Edwin e



(No Model.)

E. E. SWIFT.

THILL COUPLING.

Patented June 30, 1885.

z U M w 4i mm K we m i 2 i Q a 3 nw N UNITED STATES EDWIN E. SWIFT, OF PATEBSON, NEW JERSEY.

THlLL-COUPLING.

HPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 321,398, dated June 30, 1885.

Application filed May .23, 1885. (No model.)

I 0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN E. SWIFT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Paterson, Passaic county, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thin-Couplings, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a thill-coupling of new construction, wherein the thill is secured in the coupling-box beyond the possibility of its escaping therefrom. I attain this object by the construction shown, which will be fully explained, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure l of the drawings shows, in perspective, my invention secured in position, a portion only of the a-Xletree and thill being shown. Fig. 2 is a part sectional plan of the same, in which figure a part of the covering is removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the same, and Figs. 4 and 5 are modifications of that shown in the other figures.

A represents a thill-coupling constructed with a box, E. The front of the couplingbox E is cylindrical in form, and is made wide enough to accommodate projecting lugs b of the thill B, as shown in Fig. 2. The sides of the box E have arranged therein orifices to accommodate a bolt, F. The bolt F is provided with a screw -nut, F, the bolt passing the orifices in the sides of the box E, and through a like orifice prepared therefor in the part B of the thill B. The thill,which journals on the bolt F, is kept entirely free from frictional contact with the interior of the couplingbox to prevent wear of the parts, as shown in Fig. 3. The upper back part of the box E is provided with a recess to accommodate a covering plate, G, which plate is adapted to fit the recess, and which is provided with a suitable orifice to accommodate a bolt, H, which bolt passes through the plate G and box E, and through a rubber block, K, arranged back of the thill in the coupling-box, and which conforms to the shape of the thill, as shown in Fig. 3. The bolt H is provided with a screw-nut, H, which holds the rubber K and bolt H in position in the coupling-box, and holds the plate G in the recess securely. The coupling-box E is provided with a clip, E. The clip E clips over the tree l) and axle G, and is secured to said axle and tree by means of a plate, E bolt E, and nut E in the usual way, as shown in Figs. 1, 2.

When used in the modified form shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the box has no recess and no covering-plate G, and the bolt H is arranged to pass through the sides of the coupling-box and through the rubber block longitudinally,

in which case the rubber K is made to be even with the coupling-box at the top and bottom of the same, and is left without covering.

In practice the coupling-box is secured in position on the axle-tree by means of the clips E, E E and E, after which action the plate G, bolt H, and rubber K are removed, and the thill B put down in position in the coupling-box to which the thill is adapted, after which is done the part B is placed in position to receive the bolt, which is passed through the thill, after which the nut F is secured on the bolt F, which secures the thill B in the coupling box. The rubber K is placed in position behind the thill B, and the plate G is placed in position in the recess, after which action the bolt H is passed through the plate and rubber down through the bottom of the box E, and the nut H screwed thereon, which secures the rubber and plate to the coupling-box.

The thiil-coupling having been secured to the wagon axle, as shown in Fig. 1, and should the bolt Fbe broken by accident or otherwise, or should the nut F, by the jar consequent iipon the rapid motion of the wagon, unscrew and the bolt escape from the thill and box, in that case the thill would be drawn forward, and the lugs I) would engage the front part of the couplingbox, which is made sufficiently strong to bear the consequent strain and hold the thill secure in the coupling-box beyond the possibility of its escape from the interior of the coupling-box E. The rubber K prevents the rattle and clatter'of the parts in the well-known way.

By this my invention many accidents are prevented, which gives additional security to life and limb, and prevents destruction of property. The device may be made of any suitable material or materials adapted to such use.

Having described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- ICO In a thiILcOupIing, I, the c0n1binati0n,with I to fit the recess, the clip E, with axle O, and the coupling-box E, the box adapted to rethetreeD,a11arrangedasshownanddescribed. ceive and retain the thill B B of the thill B having lugs b, adapted to engage the box IE: EDWIN SWIFT 5 the bolt F, the nut F, the bolt H, for secur- Witnesses:

ing the riibber K, and rubber secured by bolt J OHN INGLIS, H, the nut H, the covering-plate G, adapted HATTIE WARNER. 

